Haverfordwest County 2-1 Swansea City

 

Haverfordwest County’s recent run of successes continued at the Conygar Bridge Meadow as they beat a very talented young Swansea City team which was composed of 16 and 17 year olds making their way in the game, writes Bill Carne.

 

Included in the Swans’ set-up was a brace of Pembrokian players in 15 year old Liam Cullen and Tom Dyson (Freshwater East) who was celebrating his 17th birthday, and both played well alongside Joe Rodon, whose older brother Sam is such an influential figure at the back for the Bluebirds but missed the match because of illness.

 

Pleasing for Haverfordwest County’s manager Wayne Jones, who has just been voted Welsh League manager of the month, was the fact that several of the club’s development squad played really well as he had teenagers Joseph Williams, Jack Britton, Gregg Walters, Mark Davies,  Glen Fiteni and Laurie Haworth involved and showing they can cope at this level.

 

Indeed, it was Walters who deservedly opened the scoring, a little against the run of play, when Luke Borelli sped into the box and was hauled down by keeper Gareth Owen. Borelli took the resulting spot-kick himself but fired it at the keeper, who could only parry it upwards for Walters to volley the ball home from close range as he was the first to react.

 

Both sides had half chances as they played some attractive football but it was the Swans who drew level with a quality goal from Cullen after Joe Rodon had made ground down the right, shrugged off his marker and squared the ball to Cullen near the penalty spot so that he could find the far corner with exquisite ease.

 

If Swansea had marginally the better of the first half, with Cullen hitting the bar, it was the Bluebirds who looked sharper after the interval as their Young Guns fired on all cylinders and regained the lead when an awful mix up in the Swans’ defence gave Laurie Haworth a tap-in as reward for his perseverance.

 

Another ghastly error by Owen gave Haworth another clear chance but his shot flew just over the bar; Fiteni featured with a header and shot which were saved and Carroll also created a half chance which went close.

 

The ever-alert Cullen hit the near post at the other end but Dan Evans and his back four stayed in control and so Haverfordwest County enjoyed yet another win as their reward.

 

Haverfordwest County: Dan Evans: Ricky Watts; Dale Griffiths (Capt); Sean Pemberton;  Joseph Williams: Chris O’Sullivan; Jack Britton; Gregg Walters; Declan Carroll: Luke Borelli; Sam Wilson. Subs: Antonio Facciuto; Nicky Palmer; Jordan Follows; Glen Fiteni; Mark Davies; Laurie Haworth, Craig Morris.

Swansea Under 21s: Gareth Owen: Joe Rodon; Tom Atyeo; Joseph Jones; Dan Jeffries: Jack Evans; Tom Dyson; Brandon Griffiths; Dan James; Kyle Copp; Liam Cullen. Subs: Kieron Evans; Adnan Maric; Ashley Harries; Jordan Jones, Joe Lewis.

Referee: Tom Bevan.

Assistants: Ben Williams and Gareth Elliott.